Abstract: An airbag assembly for a motor vehicle includes an inflatable airbag, a tether, and at least one guide member. The tether controls deployment of the inflatable airbag. The tether has a fixed length between a first end and a second end. The at least one guide member slidably receives the tether such that the tether has a first adjustable length portion between the first end and the at least one guide member and the tether has a second adjustable length portion between the second end and the at least one guide member.

Abstract: Airbag cushion modules and vehicles comprising lever elements to facilitate opening adjacent vehicle structures. Some embodiments may comprise curtain airbag cushion assemblies comprising an inflator and a curtain airbag cushion fluidly coupled with the inflator. The curtain airbag cushion may be configured to deploy in a deployment direction adjacent to a vehicle door. A lever member may be coupled, operably and/or physically, with the curtain airbag cushion and may be configured to pivot during deployment of the curtain airbag cushion using forces generated from inflation of the curtain airbag cushion to pry an adjacent portion of a vehicle interior open during deployment.

Abstract: A side airbag assembly is attachable to a frame of a seat of a vehicle. The side airbag assembly may include an inflatable airbag cushion in a packaged configuration. The inflatable airbag cushion may be inflated by an inflator in fluid communication with the inflatable airbag cushion to supply inflation gas to inflate the inflatable airbag cushion. The inflator may include an attachment stud to mount the airbag assembly to the side of a seat. The side airbag assembly may further include a wrapper configured to wrap around the inflator and the inflatable airbag cushion in the packaged configuration and a cap that is coupled to the wrapper. The cap is configured to enclose a first end of the inflatable airbag cushion in the packaged configuration.

Abstract: Inflatable airbag assemblies and methods are disclosed for a vehicle seating position having a utility component or occupant accessory that at least partially extends over a seat of the vehicle seating position. The utility component/occupant accessory may be stowable, and may be adjustable upward-downward, fore-aft, rotationally, etc. The utility component/occupant accessory may house an inflatable airbag cushion of the inflatable airbag assembly, which may deploy in a collision event so as to be disposed between the utility component/occupant accessory and the vehicle seating position.

Abstract: A side inflatable airbag assembly for a vehicle is disclosed. Inflatable airbag assemblies may provide protection for an occupant in a vehicle collision event. In a side collision event, or other event producing lateral movement of the occupant relative to the vehicle, the disclosed inflatable airbag assembly may receive and support the occupant during ride-down so as to prevent or minimize injury resulting from impact with a vehicle sidewall. An inflatable airbag cushion of the inflatable airbag assembly comprises a valve with an aperture and a vent flap that has a strong connection and a weak connection to the inflatable airbag cushion. The disclosed airbag may differentially support the occupant by providing varied degrees of support for the shoulder, pelvis, and torso, which may be particularly beneficial to an elderly occupant whose bones may be more susceptible to some injury types and modes as a result of age-incident health issues.

Abstract: A gas generator including a diffuser for diffusing inflation gases generated by an inflator of the gas generator. The gas generator includes at least a first mounting stud. The diffuser has a cylindrical sidewall axially extending between first and second axial ends and circumferentially extending between first and second axially extending sides. A gap is defined between the first and second axially extending sides. The cylindrical sidewall includes a plurality of holes radially extend therethrough and includes a slot having a closed end and an open end. The diffuser circumferentially surrounds a portion of the cylindrical housing of the inflator with the first mounting stud disposed in the slot.

Abstract: An inflator for generating inflation gases for a safety device includes a filter having a main body portion constructed of metal and an opening passing through the main body portion in an axial direction. The opening has a first end with a first diameter at a first axial side of the main body portion and a second end with a greater, second diameter at a second axial side of the main body portion. A plate disposed in the housing axially separates a filter chamber containing the filter and a combustion chamber containing at least one gas generant material. The plate includes a weakened zone which opens in response to an increase in pressure within the combustion chamber with a plurality of petals axially extending into the filter chamber. A first axially extending portion of the filter is adjacent the plate and opposes radial movement of the plurality of petals upon opening of the weakened zone into the filter chamber.

Abstract: Wraps for a steering wheel and methods of wrapping a steering wheel with an integrated light bar assembly are disclosed. The light bar assembly is configured to be mounted to a rim of a steering wheel of a vehicle. The light bar assemblies can include components of a driver monitoring system. The light bar assembly includes two shells defining or surrounding the rim and a wrapping surrounding the two shells. A portion of the wrapping is tucked into a slot disposed between the two shells forming a slit. A lens is disposed within the slit and pinched by the wrapping to prevent leakage of light around the lens.

Abstract: Far-side inflatable airbag assemblies are disclosed to be installed to deploy adjacent an occupant during a far-side collision event or a far-side oblique collision event, and may retain the occupant at the occupant's vehicle occupant position to protect the occupant from collision with structures within the vehicle, as well as from collisions with other occupants of the vehicle. The far-side inflatable airbag assemblies of the present disclosure may be particularly beneficial when installed between vehicle occupant positions of the vehicle.

Abstract: An occupant restraint system for a seat of a vehicle. The occupant restraint system includes at least a first airbag deployable and at least a first tensioning member. The first airbag is deployable from the seat. The first tensioning member has a first portion for receiving inflation gases and a second portion attachable to the seat at a mounting location. The tensioning member including a least a first webbing elongated between the first portion and the second portion. The first webbing is at least partially constructed of a first inflatable tubular webbing adapted to receive inflation gases for tensioning the tensioning member and delivering inflation gases to the airbag upon airbag deployment.

Abstract: A seatbelt pretensioning retractor assembly for use in a vehicle is provided. The seatbelt pretensioning retractor assembly includes a housing adapted for being mounted to a frame and having an interior cavity, a pretensioner tube having an arcuate and curved shape, a sprocket rotatably mounted to the housing and fixedly coupled to a spindle, a driving element as a pretensioner rod disposed within the tube and a guide plate having a guide portion and a rod guide. The pretensioner rod extends in a longitudinal direction from a proximal end portion to a distal end portion. In addition, the pretensioner rod forms a recessed portion or a recessed section to facilitate engaging with the sprocket during pretensioning.

Abstract: An occupant restraint system for a seat of a vehicle includes an airbag and an external tensioning member. The airbag is deployable from the seat and includes at least one cushion vent hole for venting inflation gases from the airbag. The tensioning member is attachable to the seat and includes at least a first webbing elongated between a first end and a second end. The first webbing including at least one webbing hole such that each cushion vent hole of the at least one cushion vent hole has a corresponding webbing hole from the at least one webbing hole. A releasable connection releasably connects the first webbing and the airbag to normally maintain alignment between each cushion vent hole and the corresponding webbing hole in response to a predetermined tension in the tensioning member to misalign each cushion vent hole with the corresponding webbing hole.

Abstract: A dual stage inflator includes a housing defining an internal cavity including a combustion chamber. The combustion chamber includes a first portion having a first gas generant material separated from a second portion having a second gas generant material. A gas generant retaining wall is disposed in the housing. A first stage ignition device is disposed in the first portion of the combustion chamber. A second stage ignition device is disposed in the second portion of the combustion chamber. A lid normally closes the second portion of the combustion chamber and is spaced from the gas generant retaining wall. The lid is moveable to an open position opening the second portion of the internal cavity to release combustion gas and abutting the gas generant retaining wall in response to an increase of pressure within the second portion of the combustion chamber.

Abstract: An inflator for generating inflation gases for a safety device includes a filter having a main body portion constructed of metal and an opening passing through the main body portion in an axial direction. The opening has a first end with a first diameter at a first axial side of the main body portion and a second end with a greater, second diameter at a second axial side of the main body portion. A plate disposed in the housing axially separates a filter chamber containing the filter and a combustion chamber containing at least one gas generant material. The plate includes a weakened zone which opens in response to an increase in pressure within the combustion chamber with a plurality of petals axially extending into the filter chamber. A first axially extending portion of the filter is adjacent the plate and opposes radial movement of the plurality of petals upon opening of the weakened zone into the filter chamber.

Abstract: Airbag cushion diffusers comprising one or more frangible portions and related airbag cushion assemblies and methods. In some embodiments, an airbag cushion assembly may comprise an airbag cushion having an internal diffuser positioned therein. The internal diffuser may comprise a lower panel that may be sewn or otherwise directly coupled to the airbag cushion and an upper panel coupled to the lower panel about respective entire peripheries of the upper and lower panels so as to define a diffuser chamber between the upper panel and the lower panel. The upper panel may comprise a plurality of openings for delivery of inflation gas therethrough and may comprise one or more openings, slits, and/or weakened regions configured to facilitate tearing in specific locations of the diffuser.

Abstract: Light bar assemblies configured to be mounted at a rim of a steering wheel of a vehicle are disclosed. The light bar assemblies can include components of a driver monitoring system. The light bar assembly includes a PCB bar having a plurality of visible and infrared LEDs and a LED driver. The PCB bar is coupled to a support plate of an outer shell surrounding the PCB bar. The support plate transfers heat generated by the LEDs and LED driver away from the PCB bar.

Abstract: A seatbelt pretensioning retractor assembly for use in a vehicle is provided. The seatbelt pretensioning retractor assembly includes a housing adapted for being mounted to a frame and having an interior cavity, a pretensioner tube having an arcuate and curved shape, a pretensioner wheel rotatably mounted to the housing and fixedly coupled to a spindle, a pretensioner rod disposed within the tube and a guide plate having a guide portion and a rod guide. The pretensioner rod engages with the pretensioner wheel during pretensioning. In addition, the pretensioner wheel includes a body portion, a pair of flanges radially extending from the body portion and a plurality of vanes with the cavities formed between adjacent two of the plurality of vanes.

Abstract: An actuator assembly that includes an actuator device. The actuator device includes a tubular housing with a first end and a second end, the tubular housing defining a storage chamber containing a pyrotechnic material to produce gas. At least one electrical connection is coupled to the first end, the electrical connection in reaction initiating communication with the pyrotechnic material. An actuator housing that partially encompasses the tubular housing, wherein an outer surface of the actuator housing comprises a hexagon shaped portion that extends along a longitudinal direction of the actuator housing. An assembly housing at least partially encompasses the actuator device, wherein an inner surface of the assembly housing comprises an engaging surface portion that extends along a longitudinal direction of the assembly housing that corresponds to and slidably engages with the hexagon shaped portion of the actuator housing.

Abstract: An inflatable airbag system can be configured to be mounted to a frontal region of a vehicle. The inflatable airbag system includes a housing configured to be mounted on a steering wheel of a vehicle and an inflator assembly at least partially disposed within the housing. The inflatable airbag system includes an airbag that receives inflation gas from the inflator assembly to expand and deploy out of the housing from a packaged configuration to a deployed configuration to provide occupant crash protection during a collision event, the airbag defining an inflatable chamber. A diffuser is disposed within the inflatable chamber and is in fluid communication with the inflator assembly. An occupant-facing panel of the diffuser comprises an aperture disposed in the center of the occupant-facing panel of the diffuser.

Abstract: A seat belt pretensioner for use in a seat belt pretensioning retractor assembly includes a pretensioner tube in fluid communication with a gas generator, and a driving element with a piston disposed inside the pretensioner tube and formed a flexible elongated rod. At least a portion of an outer surface of the elongated rod spaced from an inside surface of the pretensioner tube defines at least one clearance space to be filled by the deformed elongated rod in the event that a gas pressure from the gas generator is applied to the piston when a sprocket is engaged with the elongated rod causing an overpressure condition in an actuation volume defined between the piston and the gas generator within the pretensioner tube.